Joel Gailer
Joel Gailer explores the material and philosophical conditions of painting through sculptural works of art, painting, performance, video and digital media.
Words: Cardia Speziale I Photography: Dan Sibley, Joel Gailer & Bhavin Mettanant
‘What is art? What is a painting? What is an artistic object? My theoretical, philosophical and material explorations have led me to the conclusion that the forms and ideas we know as art are in an ever-evolving process of change and form a key part of the construct we call reality,’ says Joel Gailer. Photo: Dan Sibley
‘I’m currently trying to expand my paint sculptures in scale and initial experiments are proving very fruitful. I’m also developing a Marquette for a big, head high, outdoor version of my painting sculptures, a full on immersive colour experience,’ says Joel Gailer. Photo: Bhavin Mettanant
Honey eater by Joel Gailer. Photo: Joel Gailer
“I work across disciplines – from painting to printmaking and sculpture to performance art. I relish in the full gamut of creative practice and seek the most meaningful process to convey the idea I want to impart.”
He collapsed like a convention exposed as a arbitrary abstraction by Joel Gailer. Photo: Joel Gailer
‘I’m a solo father, my children and I are completely absorbed in creativity. We live in a giant art studio and the separation between art and life is basically non-existent. We live and breathe art. It is a true gift. I am forever grateful for this life.’ Photo: Dan Sibley
The son of longstanding QLD painter Ken Gailer, and with many generations of artists before him, Joel Gailer was never too far from creative inspiration. Starting his own art practice as a self-proclaimed ‘19-year-old surf rat’, Joel moved from Queensland to rural Victoria to study photography at TAFE — admittedly not aligning with the conservative nature of the locale at the time — before settling in Melbourne in 1999. Here, he would cut his teeth at Monash university Fine Arts, before eventually founding the gallery Brunswick Arts which he handed over to a group of artists who kept it running for eleven years before closing the doors in 2015.
‘The exposure to art, particularly to abstract painting and other experimental practices at a very young age has undoubtedly affected me,’ says Joel. ‘I have particularly fond memories of the long Queensland summers and passing the time by reading dads art books. Learning about Picasso, Brett Whitely and all the great modernists. This instilled in me knowledge I have been able to draw on for ideas and stories throughout my life,’ he adds.
With a plethora of twists and turns along the way that shaped his life and his artistic practice, Joel’s journey led him to where he is today as a respected artist who works across print, sculpture, painting, performance, video and digital media.
Newly represented by Bluethumb gallery, Joel is now showing works in The Next Wave exhibition; a showcase of 10 artists’ works, aimed to offer a glimpse into the future of contemporary art. It's the first exhibition of its kind for Bluethumb and highlights the work of artists who have recently joined Australia's largest online gallery but are already making a big impact with collectors.
His sculptural series for The Next Wave explores the material and philosophical conditions of painting. By recombining the mediums and materials of a painting into a 3D sculpture, Joel poses the question of what it means to make a painting.
‘Initially, I aimed to explore the intrinsic qualities of paint and the historical emergence of canvas painting; I was questioning how the convention of painting on stretched canvas emerged and why it is still a dominant form of artistic production today,’ muses Joel. ‘Through material negotiation with the three-dimensional aspects of painting, the paint eventually left the canvas altogether and became this weird hybrid of painting and sculpture,’ he says.
Two decades on from ‘hitch-hiking to Victoria from Queensland to begin a pursuit of his artistic career, Joel has exhibited nationally and internationally, had his work acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria, University of Southern Queensland and more, and exhibited in over 60 shows.
‘I am constantly experimenting with new processes and techniques, says Joel. ‘And I am honoured to have been selected by Bluethumb — it’s an extraordinary opportunity for artists to engage in the ever- expanding digital marketplace for art,’ he adds.
Bluethumb’s first-ever exhibition of emerging artists is on now and will run though until Monday, 29 April 2024.
For more information about the exhibition, visit Bluethumb.